Heirs Holdings Graduate Trainee Program 2026: Requirements & How to Apply

Last updated: 1 October 2026

Heirs Holdings is a pan-African investment company with a diversified portfolio spanning power, energy, banking, insurance and financial services, technology, hospitality, real estate, and healthcare, operating across twenty-four countries. Its Graduate Trainee Program is run through Heirs Academy, the Group’s centre of excellence for leadership, institutional capability, and talent development, and spans several of its portfolio companies, including Heirs Insurance Group, Heirs Energies, Afriland Properties Plc, and United Capital. Two Heirs Holdings subsidiaries were recently named among the 2026 Financial Times list of Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies, reflecting the Group’s genuine standing in the region.

This breadth of sectors, spanning insurance, energy, real estate, and financial services under one Group, is part of why the trainee program is structured around multiple participating companies rather than a single, uniform intake.

Current Recruitment Status

The second cohort of the Heirs Academy Graduate Trainee Program opened on 24 August 2026 and closed on 4 September 2026. That specific application window has now closed. The Group’s first cohort saw 54 trainees complete the six month program, with many going on to take up roles within Heirs Holdings and its portfolio companies, a genuine track record worth knowing even outside an active application window. Watch graduate-trainee.heirsholdings.com directly for the next genuine, dated cohort announcement, since application windows for this specific program have historically stayed open for only about two weeks.

How the Program Is Structured

The Graduate Trainee Program runs for six months, combining a four week Group Foundation Bootcamp focused on core business fundamentals with five months of hands-on, in-company deployment across participating portfolio companies. High performing trainees are considered for placement within the Group once the program concludes, giving successful candidates a genuinely structured pathway from training into full employment.

Participating Companies and Disciplines

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree from a reputable, accredited Nigerian or foreign university, with a minimum of Second Class Lower (2:2).
• Must have completed the National Youth Service Corps program.
• No more than two years of post-NYSC professional experience, counted from your service completion date.
• Maximum age of 27 at the time of application.
• Willingness to complete the full six month program, including relocation to Lagos where required for your specific placement.
• A genuine academic background matching one of the specific disciplines sought by your chosen portfolio company, confirmed before you begin your application.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official portal at HERE directly.

2. Use the dropdown menu to select the specific portfolio company and discipline that genuinely matches your background.

3. Complete the online application form with accurate personal and academic details, double checking everything before proceeding.

4. Upload your CV and any supporting documents requested for your specific application.

5. Submit before the stated deadline and monitor your email for updates, since the application window has historically stayed open for only about two weeks.

6. Retain your confirmation and check back periodically for the next genuine cohort announcement.

Choosing the Right Company for Your Background

Given how differently each participating company’s requirements are structured, selecting the right one genuinely matters. Heirs Insurance Group leans heavily technical and quantitative, drawing candidates from insurance, actuarial science, and software engineering backgrounds. Heirs Energies is specifically geared toward engineering and earth sciences graduates. Heirs Holdings itself, alongside United Capital, casts a genuinely wider net, open to candidates from almost any discipline. Match your academic background honestly to the company whose stated disciplines actually fit, rather than applying broadly across every option in the hope that one succeeds.

What the Program Offers

• Practical, hands-on experience across real projects within Heirs Holdings portfolio companies.
• Structured learning through Heirs Academy, alongside access to the TOE Mentorship Program.
• A competitive compensation package, including comprehensive family health plans, group life insurance, and paid leave.
• A genuine pathway into full time employment within the Group for high performing trainees.
• Exposure to real business operations across a genuinely large, diversified pan-African organisation operating in twenty-four countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Heirs Holdings Graduate Trainee Program currently open?

The second cohort’s application window closed on 4 September 2026. Check graduate-trainee.heirsholdings.com directly for the next genuine, dated cohort rather than trusting a generic third party claim.

Can HND holders apply?

The stated requirement is a Bachelor’s degree with at least a Second Class Lower, so confirm directly with Heirs Holdings whether an HND qualification is considered equivalent for your specific discipline before preparing your application.

Is NYSC required?

Yes. Completion of the NYSC program is a stated requirement across the listed disciplines, with no exceptions mentioned in the program’s published criteria.

What is the age limit?

27 years old or younger at the time of application, based on the program’s stated requirements, so confirm your eligibility against this cutoff before applying.

Does completing the program guarantee a job at Heirs Holdings?

No. High performing trainees are considered for placement within the Group after successful completion, but this depends on your performance throughout the six months rather than being automatic.

How did the first cohort perform?

54 trainees completed the inaugural six month program, with many going on to take up roles within Heirs Holdings and its portfolio companies, a genuine early indicator of the program’s track record and its real potential as a route into long term employment.